2025 -- S 1159

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM

     Introduced By: Senator Lammis J. Vargas

     Date Introduced: June 19, 2025

     Referred To: Placed on Senate Calendar

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 40-5.2-20 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-5.2 entitled "The Rhode

Island Works Program" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     40-5.2-20. Childcare assistance — Families or assistance units eligible. [Effective

January 1, 2025.]

     (a) The department shall provide appropriate child care to every participant who is eligible

for cash assistance and who requires child care in order to meet the work requirements in

accordance with this chapter.

     (b) Low-income child care. The department shall provide child care to all other working

families with incomes at or below two hundred sixty-one percent (261%) of the federal poverty

level if, and to the extent, these other families require child care in order to work at paid

employment as defined in the department’s rules and regulations. The department shall also provide

child care to families with incomes below two hundred sixty-one percent (261%) of the federal

poverty level if, and to the extent, these families require child care to participate on a short-term

basis, as defined in the department’s rules and regulations, in training, apprenticeship, internship,

on-the-job training, work experience, work immersion, or other job-readiness/job-attachment

program sponsored or funded by the human resource investment council (governor’s workforce

board) or state agencies that are part of the coordinated program system pursuant to § 42-102-11.

Effective from January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, the department shall also provide childcare

assistance to families with incomes below one hundred eighty percent (180%) of the federal poverty

level when such assistance is necessary for a member of these families to enroll or maintain

enrollment in a Rhode Island public institution of higher education provided that eligibility to

receive funding is capped when expenditures reach $200,000 for this provision. Effective July 1,

2022 through December 31, 2024, the department shall also provide childcare assistance to families

with incomes below two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level when such assistance

is necessary for a member of these families to enroll or maintain enrollment in a Rhode Island

public institution of higher education. Effective January 1, 2025, the department shall also provide

childcare assistance to families with incomes below two hundred sixty-one percent (261%) of the

federal poverty level when such assistance is necessary for a member of these families to enroll or

maintain enrollment in a Rhode Island public institution of higher education.

     (c) No family/assistance unit shall be eligible for childcare assistance under this chapter if

the combined value of its liquid resources exceeds one million dollars ($1,000,000), which

corresponds to the amount permitted by the federal government under the state plan and set forth

in the administrative rulemaking process by the department. Liquid resources are defined as any

interest(s) in property in the form of cash or other financial instruments or accounts that are readily

convertible to cash or cash equivalents. These include, but are not limited to: cash, bank, credit

union, or other financial institution savings, checking, and money market accounts; certificates of

deposit or other time deposits; stocks; bonds; mutual funds; and other similar financial instruments

or accounts. These do not include educational savings accounts, plans, or programs; retirement

accounts, plans, or programs; or accounts held jointly with another adult, not including a spouse.

The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to determine the ownership and

source of the funds in the joint account.

     (d) As a condition of eligibility for childcare assistance under this chapter, the parent or

caretaker relative of the family must consent to, and must cooperate with, the department in

establishing paternity, and in establishing and/or enforcing child support and medical support

orders for any children in the family receiving appropriate child care under this section in

accordance with the applicable sections of title 15, as amended, unless the parent or caretaker

relative is found to have good cause for refusing to comply with the requirements of this subsection.

     (e) For purposes of this section, “appropriate child care” means child care, including infant,

toddler, preschool, nursery school, and school-age, that is provided by a person or organization

qualified, approved, and authorized to provide the care by the state agency or agencies designated

to make the determinations in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

     (f)(1) Families with incomes below one hundred percent (100%) of the applicable federal

poverty level guidelines shall be provided with free child care. Families with incomes greater than

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one hundred percent (100%) and less than two hundred percent (200%) of the applicable federal

poverty guideline shall be required to pay for some portion of the child care they receive, according

to a sliding-fee scale adopted by the department in the department’s rules, not to exceed seven

percent (7%) of income as defined in subsection (h) of this section.

     (2) Families who are receiving childcare assistance and who become ineligible for

childcare assistance as a result of their incomes exceeding two hundred sixty-one percent (261%)

of the applicable federal poverty guidelines shall continue to be eligible for childcare assistance

until their incomes exceed three hundred percent (300%) of the applicable federal poverty

guidelines. To be eligible, the families must continue to pay for some portion of the child care they

receive, as indicated in a sliding-fee scale adopted in the department’s rules, not to exceed seven

percent (7%) of income as defined in subsection (h) of this section, and in accordance with all other

eligibility standards.

     (g) In determining the type of child care to be provided to a family, the department shall

take into account the cost of available childcare options; the suitability of the type of care available

for the child; and the parent’s preference as to the type of child care.

     (h) For purposes of this section, “income” for families receiving cash assistance under §

40-5.2-11 means gross, earned income and unearned income, subject to the income exclusions in

§§ 40-5.2-10(g)(2) and 40-5.2-10(g)(3), and income for other families shall mean gross, earned and

unearned income as determined by departmental regulations.

     (i) The caseload estimating conference established by chapter 17 of title 35 shall forecast

the expenditures for child care in accordance with the provisions of § 35-17-1.

     (j) In determining eligibility for childcare assistance for children of members of reserve

components called to active duty during a time of conflict, the department shall freeze the family

composition and the family income of the reserve component member as it was in the month prior

to the month of leaving for active duty. This shall continue until the individual is officially

discharged from active duty.

     (k) Effective from August 1, 2023, through July 31, 2025 2028, the department shall

provide funding for child care for eligible childcare educators, and childcare staff, who work at

least twenty (20) hours a week in licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare homes

as defined in the department’s rules and regulations. Eligibility is limited to qualifying childcare

educators and childcare staff with family incomes up to three hundred percent (300%) of the

applicable federal poverty guidelines and will have no copayments. Qualifying participants may

select the childcare center or family childcare home for their children. The department shall

promulgate regulations necessary to implement this section, and will collect applicant and

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participant data to report estimated demand for state-funded child care for eligible childcare

educators and childcare staff. The report shall be due annually to the governor and the general

assembly by November 1, 2024.

     SECTION 2. Section 40-6.2-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 40-6.2 entitled "Child

Care — State Subsidies" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     40-6.2-1.1. Rates established.

     (a) Through June 30, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the

maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth

and families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare providers shall be based

on the following schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the

average of the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates:

     Licensed Childcare Centers 75th Percentile of Weekly Market Rate

     Infant $182.00

     Preschool $150.00

     School-Age $135.00

     Licensed Family Childcare Providers 75th Percentile of Weekly Market Rate

     Infant $150.00

     Preschool $150.00

     School-Age $135.00

     Effective July 1, 2015, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the maximum

reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of human services and children, youth and

families for licensed childcare centers and licensed family childcare providers shall be based on the

above schedule of the 75th percentile of the 2002 weekly market rates adjusted for the average of

the 75th percentile of the 2002 and the 2004 weekly market rates. These rates shall be increased by

ten dollars ($10.00) per week for infant/toddler care provided by licensed family childcare

providers and license-exempt providers and then the rates for all providers for all age groups shall

be increased by three percent (3%). For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018, licensed childcare

centers shall be reimbursed a maximum weekly rate of one hundred ninety-three dollars and sixty-

four cents ($193.64) for infant/toddler care and one hundred sixty-one dollars and seventy-one

cents ($161.71) for preschool-age children.

     (b) Effective July l, 2018, subject to the payment limitations in subsection (c), the

maximum infant/toddler and preschool-age reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments of

human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be

implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

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the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1.

     (1) For infant/toddler child care, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half percent

(2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above

the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY

2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed twenty percent (20%) above the FY 2018 weekly

amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed thirty-three percent (33%) above the FY 2018 weekly

amount.

     (2) For preschool reimbursement rates, tier one shall be reimbursed two and one-half

percent (2.5%) above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%)

above the FY 2018 weekly amount, tier three shall be reimbursed ten percent (10%) above the FY

2018 weekly amount, tier four shall be reimbursed thirteen percent (13%) above the FY 2018

weekly amount, and tier five shall be reimbursed twenty-one percent (21%) above the FY 2018

weekly amount.

     (c) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 88, art. 13, § 4.]

     (d) By June 30, 2004, and biennially through June 30, 2014, the department of labor and

training shall conduct an independent survey or certify an independent survey of the then-current

weekly market rates for child care in Rhode Island and shall forward the weekly market rate survey

to the department of human services. The next survey shall be conducted by June 30, 2016, and

triennially thereafter. The departments of human services and labor and training will jointly

determine the survey criteria including, but not limited to, rate categories and sub-categories.

     (e) In order to expand the accessibility and availability of quality child care, the department

of human services is authorized to establish, by regulation, alternative or incentive rates of

reimbursement for quality enhancements, innovative or specialized child care, and alternative

methodologies of childcare delivery, including nontraditional delivery systems and collaborations.

     (f) Effective January 1, 2007, all childcare providers have the option to be paid every two

(2) weeks and have the option of automatic direct deposit and/or electronic funds transfer of

reimbursement payments.

     (g) Effective July 1, 2019, the maximum infant/toddler reimbursement rates to be paid by

the departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed family childcare

providers shall be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has

achieved within the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Tier one shall be

reimbursed two percent (2%) above the prevailing base rate for step 1 and step 2 providers, three

percent (3%) above prevailing base rate for step 3 providers, and four percent (4%) above the

prevailing base rate for step 4 providers; tier two shall be reimbursed five percent (5%) above the

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prevailing base rate; tier three shall be reimbursed eleven percent (11%) above the prevailing base

rate; tier four shall be reimbursed fourteen percent (14%) above the prevailing base rate; and tier

five shall be reimbursed twenty-three percent (23%) above the prevailing base rate.

     (h) Through December 31, 2021, the maximum reimbursement rates paid by the

departments of human services, and children, youth and families to licensed childcare centers shall

be consistent with the enhanced emergency rates provided as of June 1, 2021, as follows:

      Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5

     Infant/Toddler $257.54 $257.54 $257.54 $257.54 $273.00

     Preschool Age $195.67 $195.67 $195.67 $195.67 $260.00

     School Age $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 $200.00 $245.00

     The maximum reimbursement rates paid by the departments of human services, and

children, youth and families to licensed family childcare providers shall be consistent with the

enhanced emergency rates provided as of June 1, 2021, as follows:

      Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5

     Infant/Toddler $224.43 $224.43 $224.43 $224.43 $224.43

     Preschool Age $171.45 $171.45 $171.45 $171.45 $171.45

     School Age $162.30 $162.30 $162.30 $162.30 $162.30

     (i) Effective January 1, 2022, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the

departments of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall

be implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

     Licensed Childcare Centers

      Tier One Tier Two Tier Three Tier Four Tier Five

     Infant/Toddler $236.36 $244.88 $257.15 $268.74 $284.39

     Preschool $207.51 $212.27 $218.45 $223.50 $231.39

     School-Age $180.38 $182.77 $185.17 $187.57 $189.97

     The maximum reimbursement rates for licensed family childcare providers paid by the

departments of human services, and children, youth and families is determined through collective

bargaining. The maximum reimbursement rates for infant/toddler and preschool age children paid

to licensed family childcare providers by both departments is implemented in a tiered manner that

reflects the quality rating the provider has achieved in accordance with § 42-12-23.1.

     (j) Effective July 1, 2022, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments

of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be

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implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

     Licensed Childcare Centers

      Tier One Tier Two Tier Three Tier Four Tier Five

     Infant/Toddler $265 $270 $282 $289 $300

     Preschool $225 $235 $243 $250 $260

     School-Age $200 $205 $220 $238 $250

     (k) Effective July 1, 2024, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments

of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be

implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

     Licensed Childcare Centers

      Tier One Tier Two Tier Three Tier Four Tier Five

     Infant/Toddler $278 $284 $296 $303 $315

     Preschool $236 $247 $255 $263 $273

     School-Age $210 $215 $231 $250 $263

     (l) Effective July 1, 2025, the maximum reimbursement rates to be paid by the departments

of human services and children, youth and families for licensed childcare centers shall be

implemented in a tiered manner, reflective of the quality rating the provider has achieved within

the state’s quality rating system outlined in § 42-12-23.1. Maximum weekly rates shall be

reimbursed as follows:

      Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3 Tier 4 Tier 5

     Infant $334 $341 $355 $364 $378

     Toddlers $278 $284 $296 $303 $315

     Preschoolers $236 $247 $255 $263 $273

     School Age $210 $215 $231 $250 $263

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HUMAN SERVICES -- THE RHODE ISLAND WORKS PROGRAM

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     This act would increase the tiered rates paid for licensed childcare centers to meet or exceed

the federal equal access benchmark, implement a new differential bonus rate for infants under age

eighteen (18) months and adopt fair payment practices consistent with the federal rules for the Child

Care and Development Fund.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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